JACKSON BOARD MEMBERS BEGIN FISCAL PLANNING

JACKSON -- School board members approved salary schedules and numerous federal programming applications as part of fiscal planning for the 1998-99 school year during the Jackson Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.

Pay increases and increases on salary schedules were approved for certified and classified staff during the meeting. Salary schedules are charts that outline specific salary amounts for school personnel. Employees receive salary increases by moving vertically down the schedule based upon years of service to the school district. Salary increases are also gained by moving horizontally based upon educational or skill advancement.

Certified staff, which include all licensed teachers, were awarded what amounts to roughly 2.5 percent increases on average, said Dr. Terry Gibbons, assistant superintendent for finance and support services. Teachers will receive a $400 raise in addition to the increases they are due because they have moved up on the salary schedule.

Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones said the starting salary for new teachers with no teaching experience was increased to $22,400 for the next school year. The increases to the base salary and for all teaching salaries were important to retain quality teachers who would maintain the academic integrity of the school district, he said.

"Our schedule is somewhat unique with the size of our increments and the number of steps at the early part of our schedule," he said. "Keeping a strong salary schedule is very important to us as we try to stay competitive with other school districts in the area and in the state."

There was no change in the salary schedule for classified staff because the schedule increases amounted to more than 2.5 percent in every case, said Gibbons. Personnel who have progressed beyond the schedule received cost-of-living increases of 1.8 percent.

Board members also approved several applications for federal programs for the next school year. The applications are made each year to receive federal funding for programs dealing with remedial reading, professional development, safe and drug-free schools, and other programs.

In other business, the school board approved low bids for food service equipment and for the removal of an underground gasoline storage tank that will not meet newly-approved Environmental Protection Agency regulations which become effective in December.